eBay

daniel.honeycutt08 · ‎06-23-2017

I found an ad for a 2001 Toyota Tacoma for $1,500 on the Let It Go app. The ad requested to contact the seller by email. I sent an email and got the following response:

"Hi, I have received your email regarding the 2001 Toyota Tacoma has only 121,000 miles ,3.4L V6 .engine. The car is in perfect condition with clear title, no accidents, no liens or loans and it has just been completely serviced. The engine runs very good and the automatic transmission shifts perfectly. The price for the car is $1,500 (including delivery and handling to your address). I'm selling this car because my child of only 26 years died 2 months ago in a bike accident, the car belonged to my son and it brings me bad memories and that's the reason I want to sell it. Me and my husband travel a lot with our business and we want to make this deal through eBay Motors (Buyer Protection Program), so if you're interested in purchasing the car just reply me your full name, full address, phone number and email address so I can notify eBay. Once that is done, they will contact you in the next 12 hours to explain the entire procedure."

A couple things about the ad/email made me suspicious so I researched eBay's selling process. I responded to the email and said:

"I'm so sorry to hear about your son and co ole Troy understand why you'd want to sell it. I am definitely interested in the vehicle. I've never gone through eBay Motors before so I'm a little skeptical. Is there a listing for the vehicle on eBay that I can look at? Their sellers site says you have to register and create a listing to sell through eBay motors."

The response I got was even more suspicious:

"The car is located at eBay warehouse in Nebraska headquarters, in the container, sealed and ready for shipping. Also the price is low $1500 because i want a fast deal, the car belonged to my son and it brings me bad memories. Like i told, the car is in perfect condition with clear title, no liens or loans. All the documents including the title and the bill of sale with my signature on it, will come along with the car and it will take no more than 1-2 days to arrive at your address.The transaction will be made thru eBay Motors because they can protect both of us and they also offer 5 days inspection period. You'll have 5 days to inspect, test and drive the car before decided to keep it or not. If the vehicle is not like I described, you'll ship it back on my expense and they will give you a full refund. eBay will hold the funds until you receive the car with all the papers work. Only after you confirm them that you wanna keep the car they will release me the funds. In this way, you will be able to inspect the vehicle before committing to buy it.

If you want to start the transaction with eBay just reply me with your full name, full shipping address, your phone number and email address then they will contact you with further instructions."

At this point, I searched for the eBay warehouse she stated. eBay posts popped up immediately in the search indicating others had been scammed using these same type stores and cheap prices. I reported the ad on Let It Go.

Be careful folks!

ripsmc · ‎06-23-2017

This is a blatant scam and it should be obvious to a blind man. There is no 2001 Tacoma, there is no eBay warehouse, and there is no dead son.

So now the Craigslist scams word for word have migrated to Let It Go.......

legitimate_bidder · ‎06-23-2017

It would cost more than $1500 to ship a vehicle in NE. to you, in a container no less... Not to mention what the fees would be for such a program that actually handles and sells and guarantees the vehicles, if such a service really existed.....so the "seller" would actually have to pay more than what you would be paying him, to get rid of the vehicle, if he really owned the vehicle. Meanwhile, they could just drive it to any used car lot in his own town and get a few grand for it.

You want a Tacoma for $1500? Go to a salvage auction. If they have one that was hit by a train, you may be able to get it for $1500.

Seriously, if you believe such a ridiculous offer, you shouldn't be using a computer/smartphone without adult supervision.

ripsmc · ‎06-24-2017

My daughter was on a recent episode of American Pickers; the Jello wagon show.

Mike and Frank bought the wagon for 6500 and estimated 500 to ship it. Said and done, shipping was more like 3500. Oops......they shoulda known better than to even consider 500.

markealder · ‎11-29-2018

I received almost exactly the very same emails for a $5000 scooter being sold for $1200. Same responses. I knew it was a scam so went along making it clear they would receive no funds until I saw the scooter... same thing 'it's already crated up...' they then sent what appeared to be an official ebay motor web page on which they explained they process. Basically they have you buy $1200 in gift cards and send them the gift card code on the back so they can verify and hold payment until you are satisfied with the product. The scam: once they have they codes they immediately use the funds to make a fake purchase and send themselves the funds. Some people do it without realizing once the code is used, the card is rendered useless. I know they get people with this who don't read the print - it's obvious from the way things are written they are from a foreign interpretation of how we say things. Obvious to me but not to most. Crazy!!

mr.elmwood · ‎11-30-2018

Sounds real enough to me. Do they have a red one? I would like a red one.

mr.elmwood · ‎11-30-2018

"I reported the ad", to whom? Can't report it to eBay as it was never there. CL? There are hundreds, possibly thousands of fake vehicle listings like this.

Look down the threads, there is a guy who fired of $2500, on a fake car, getting ready to send off another $2000.

Take a look around CL and you will find the same truck in different cities. The invoice? It looks like it was done by a chimp with crayons. One guy posted an image of the "invoice", and on it was a phone number, than when put in Google, came back as a known scam number. He sent the money.

That may have been the paralegal who "I know what I am doing and I will sue".

Every now and then I will find scam ads on the local Buy And Sell., "$2500" "Engine is perfect inside". Pictures with palm trees "local car", I live in Canuckistan.

You are preaching to the choir, here. We have heard this hundreds of times.

chillinembers · ‎12-14-2018

yep here is another one, same story different car, 26 year old son died in bike accident

mr.elmwood · ‎12-16-2018

Zombie thread

bob-o-71 · ‎01-01-2019

I have a black one but can paint it red for you!!!....mine will be in locker #52 in the ebay warehouse facilty in Columbus ,Ohio....And remember, there are no scrathes on it!!!

stargazer42067 · ‎03-29-2019

Beautiful! Thought to do a search for key words. Mine is a 2004 Camry for $1200. Same exact story with identical wording, for except year, make and model. Oh well, my search continues... thanks for the post!!!

mr.elmwood · ‎03-30-2019

They hook people with FOMO (fear of missing out).

shohor_2 · ‎06-25-2019

I responded to an ad as well.........

Hello,

My name is Karen, I'm emailing you about 2010 Honda Accord EX-L with an gasoline engine, automatic transmission and only 55,112 miles. Never had or need any paint/body work done, garaged keep always, without any mechanical problems, tires and wheels are in great shape as well, electric is working perfectly. The engine 3.5L V6 SOHC 24V gas, runs very good and the automatic transmission shifts perfectly. Has a clean and clear title in my name and there are no liens or loans on it. This car has been used by my husband who died 4 month ago. The price was reduced to $1,400 because I'm in a hurry to find a buyer. I need to sell the car before the end of the month, when I will be leaving on military duty with my medical team out of the country for a year and do not want to store it. Hate to sell it but its not worth keeping insurance and paying storage fees for a year.Also, my daughter have another car so there's no use on keeping it. If you are interested reply to email.

Some details of the car:

ENGINE 3.5L

TRANSMISSION Automatic

FUEL Gasoline

DRIVE TRAIN FWD

EXTERIOR COLOR White

INTERIOR COLOR Beige

Mileage 55,112

PICS : https://www.ebayphotogallery.com/zdjecia/accord/9418986/1

Regards,

Karen Denise

My reponse was......

Yes I want it and can you give me your location so I can check the vehicle out

The response..........

Hi again Shonta,

Right now I'm in a military base. We are training, getting ready for leaving the country. The delivery process will be managed by me. I think I can have it there at your home address within 2 working days. It will come with a clear title and reg. I am a member of the eBay buyer protection program and using this service you will get a 7 days testing period after delivery. During that 7 days testing period I will not be getting any money. I need to know if you are interested so I can ask eBay to send you the details on this deal. If interested just email with your legal name (your right full name 'cause it will appear on the papers), full postal address where you want the car delivered and your cell phone # where you can be reached so we can get the ball rolling.

Thank you!

No response back so I immediately texted back .......

I have changed my mind I can’t do business this way I believe in face to face transaction to me this is like a scam because you are rushing me to pay for the vehicle and you said you think you can get me the vehicle in 2 days. So sorry not interested. Thanks for your time and I haven’t receive no email back